The second story of “Brother Dead” is mixed up with obeah beliefs and
it is hard to tell where the pattern ends and improvisation begins.
Brother Dead, like the sorcerer, evidently sends a shadow in the shape
of a brindled pup to pursue and catch Anansi. The song, meanwhile,
plays a part in the conjuring. Words and tune are African. The old
Maroon who gave me the trap-setting picture of “Brar Dead” quoted in
the note to the last number, concluded as follows:
“When he (Dead) ketch to a cross-path, tek him lance an’ see one little
maugre dog into a hole an’ dig him out an’ say to de puppy, ‘Ai! Brar,
fo’ kitty a shall man bra!’ If he had caught Anansi, he would kill
Anansi.”